Fergie blasts Utd after loss

Munich - Sir Alex Ferguson slammed his team on Tuesday after seeing Manchester United lose 2-1 to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final first leg and striker Wayne Rooney injured.

"We didn't play well enough, to be honest. We kept giving the ball away," said Ferguson after his side conceded an injury-time Ivica Olic goal that evoked memories of the famous 1999 Champions League final between the two.

However, the Scot remained upbeat for the second leg at home next Wednesday, saying: "Well, Old Trafford will be a different game obviously ... we'll play better and we won't be giving the ball away the way we did tonight."

"We've got the away goal and that's an advantage."

To add injury to insult for the three-time European champions, talismanic striker Rooney limped off the field after giving the visitors the advantage with a left-foot volley with only 66 seconds on the clock.

"He's got a kick in the ankle, we'll just have to see tomorrow. Let's hope it's not too serious," said Ferguson, echoing the thoughts of England fans everywhere with just over two months to go until the World Cup in South Africa.

Ferguson said Rooney, who has been on prolific goal-scoring form, netting 34 times this season, "may be doubtful" for Saturday's top-of-the-table clash with Chelsea in the English Premiership but added: "It's too early to tell."

Summing up the game, Ferguson said it was "a disappointing performance possession-wise" but handed credit to United's German opponents who, he said, were the better side.

Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, left stranded by a Franck Ribery free-kick mid way through the second half - which took a deflection off Rooney - and beaten from close range by Olic in the second minute of injury time, paid tribute to Bayern's "never-say-die" spirit.

"German teams are never beaten until they are on their way to the airport. It's hard to take," he said.

For his part, Bayern's Dutch coach Louis van Gaal said the win was "highly-deserved."

"We conceded a goal in the first minute that we never should have done. That was a shock. We needed 10 minutes to recover from and after that, we were the better team."

"We have a good chance also in Manchester, because we can always score a goal away from home."

Bayern will hope to welcome back their own talisman, Dutch winger Arjen Robben, who sat out the clash with United after picking up a calf injury in Saturday's defeat against Stuttgart.

Belgian defender Daniel van Buyten also stressed the Bayern team's will to win after a run of poor results that has seen them slip off the top of the Bundesliga.

"Of course, we started the game very badly, but we never gave up hope. We played a full 90 minutes knowing that we could win."

German international striker Mario Gomez, who came on as a second-half substitute, said the 66 000 fans inside the Allianz Arena had pulled the team through.

"The crowd carried us. I have only very rarely experienced an atmosphere like that in a match," he said.

AFP

Comments

Ralph - 2010-03-31 08:04

Congragulations to Bayern Munich, you played your heart our with your never to die spirit. We lost concerntration at the end of the match. Come to Old Trafford and we will hammer you 4-0. There is no way you are going to win against us at home.

Clint - 2010-03-31 08:09

Good on you Fergie..UTD deserve the tongue lashing. We conceded a silly free kick, and failed to tackle well in the box. We gave the ball away too often, and Bayern controlled the game for a great part of it. We will control the midfield better in the second leg..Rooney is a quick healer, and we will surely have him there in the 2nd leg. Valencia to start on the right.Giggs to start and supply from the left.Park to mark Robben out of the game..One goal is all we need, and Ferdinand and the crew have to defend like their lives depended on it. Sad night for us over-all though..but watch the space UTD fans..we will hold them at our fort.

Gareth - 2010-03-31 08:12

I know sir Alex will not leave it like this, he will definitely want a better second leg showing than he got for the the first leg. I just hope Rooney heals quickly because we need him for Saturday against Chelsea. Ferdinand & Vidic need to step now because we need you to stop Lampard & co. Does anyone know about how Owen Hargreaves is doing would really like to see him playing in a Man Utd t-shirt again?

ToffeeZN - 2010-03-31 08:20

Boo Hoo.. cry me a river....

RekordMeister - 2010-03-31 08:46

Bayern need only score once at Old Trafford and it's over for ManU, because then they need to score 3 goals. With Robben and Schweinsteiger back, I think it's a given Bayern will at least score once. Bayern has so far scored in every away match, and I back the boys to do that again against a fragile ManU back four. Go BAYERN!!

Eddie - 2010-03-31 08:48

Bayern Munich is a good team and we all need to appreciate that. I am also positive that in Old Trafford there will only be looking for a draw and that is it. There on the driver's seat and that is good news. Feggies just admit that you were beaten and that is it. Come Saturday and the boys in Blue will and salt to injury.

Dgs - 2010-03-31 08:49

Totally outplayed especially in the 2nd half. The midfield of MU was pathetic throughout the whole game. They are actually lucky to have only lost 2-1. A huge improvement is needed if they are to win at OT

Irshaad - 2010-03-31 08:54

Dissapointing loss by united, but Bayern definitely controlled the game. Lets hope united can up their game in the second leg and HOLD ON TO THE BALL!

Mandi J - 2010-03-31 08:55

They may have won this leg via 2 lucky goals but come old trafford, roben or no roben, we will abuse them. Hopefuly valencia will start and run riot in that left munich defence. Its time we find a new "creative" central midfielder and a striker who is worth his money, unlike barbotov.

Mbuyiselwa Maphalala - 2010-03-31 08:56

I am an Arsenal supporter but I know that Man U will progress easily to the semis, all that they need is only 1goal. I don't recall them not scoring a champions leugue goal at Old Trafford. They are a bunch of winners with goals coming from almost every player in the team, they can easily get a headed goal from Vidic in that final minute of the game.

JustinD - 2010-03-31 09:20

Noooooooooooooooooooooo

robert.davison - 2010-03-31 09:21

from.canada.go.get.them.utd.!!

Zoom - 2010-03-31 09:22

Bayern don't need to win at Old Toilet. They just need a scoring draw at least. With Robben back Utd will not cope. Utd have to feel the sting of a last-minute goal too. Bayern will go through.

PW Botha - 2010-03-31 09:26

They will lose like in the Barcelona UEFA finals, Barcelona kept the Ball. The reason I say so, Bayern plays the same style as the United. What is happening with the midddle-filders, phew...a big question mark?

Gary - 2010-03-31 09:28

Time for Gary Neville to hang up his boots. He had a good run. Now give someone else a chance. Utd midfield was weak could not win the ball and gave the ball away too easily. Carrick and Fletcher looked like average 2nd division players. Utd need to invest in quality midfielders. I am sure they will have a better showing next week. Rooney needs to be fit.

KOPKOMMANDO - 2010-03-31 09:30

HOOOOOOOOOOOOORAY....bribery of refs only works in England where the FA can cover up Alex Ferguson's indiscretions....serves him right. The German football system when taught and applied even by mediocre players will beat a carpet football style any time and twice on a Sunday!

chosen1 - 2010-03-31 09:35

that should shut united up for ,nw and come next game bayern will come out victorious!!! as you rely to much on rooney,and chelsea will just add salt to the wounds of Fergie on saturday,but united will be knocked out i hav no doubts,as they were clearly dominated by a team with injuries as well,but i hope Rooney plays so united loose with a full strength squad so we dnt listen to excuses all day.

Jason - 2010-03-31 09:35

Maybe with Rooney injured - Michael Owen can start a game.

J.L ennon - 2010-03-31 09:42

hahahahaha...united got hammered,no midfield presence last night,no right back and wtf was ferguson thinking bringing on berbaflop????
a deserved score line
now...who's betting sat's game is in the bag...come on make the mistake twice...whahahahahaha united are going to loose whahahahaha deservedly so....

rico - 2010-03-31 09:46

my word.....all these closet Bayern fans or are u just Utd haters...either way i must assume your teams are playing in this competitions so sit down and shut up.....jealousy is a terrible thing......pool and chelsea supporters you know what u losers can do....

D. Edwards - 2010-03-31 09:47

I am ashamed to say that last night's performance was very poor by our own high standards in the Champions League .
Ball possession / midfield ? - there was none , on both counts .
Defense ? - oh please ....
The second goal was almost comical - we did everything but roll out the red carpet for Bayern to score .
Berbatov , Carrick - please will someone make us an offer for these two .
I know they both came from Spurs but do they also have the same mother ? - they are just so similarly lethargic .
We need another striker - period . Rooney cannot be relied upon to carry the aspirations of a fourth consecutive title and a Champions League final on his own .
Rooney looks doubtful for Saturday and against an in-form rampant Chelsea side who scored 12 goals in two games ( 7 against Villa who have beaten United ) we are going to have our backs to the wall .
Who do we play upfront if Rooney is unfit - Diuof , Marcheda , Berbatov ??
Hate to say it but someone just switched off the light at the end of the tunnel - I will be the happiest United supporter in the world if I am wrong .

Themba - 2010-03-31 10:17

fergie sign him up fergie sign him up! lol

seeps - 2010-03-31 10:20

People rejoicing in a rare United loss in Europe... DAMN we good! Totally outplayed on the night however we got that all important away, too much class not to score atleast twice at home and NOT concede so on yesterdays average performance I was happy we got out of jail with only 2-1... it could've been far worse.

J.L ennon - 2010-03-31 10:22

yeah,i know what the chelsea fans can do...they can shove your 19th league title right up your nought this sat...and then dear rico...the pool fans can still chant the all famous "who's got history" all year long...
and you get to wonder how it all slipped away,when really it was all based on one player coming to the fore...but um,he doesnt look like he is going to make it so step up berbaflop,macheda or even owen....and i know you have tons of faith in those lads...whahahahaha...go cry somewhere else,your team got handled last night and deservedly so...arrogant b*******

Big K - 2010-03-31 10:46

@ Jason: Wat u smokin boy, Owen is out for the season with a hammy, WTF??

Mat - 2010-03-31 10:51

To Ralph,
we do not need to win at your side,a draw is enough!

chosen1 - 2010-03-31 11:10

@ seeps > united will loose again when bayern win you @ your hme ground old toilet! thn i would like to hear you pour all your excuses out! if united are lucky enough to make it ( HIGHLY LIKELY) barca will destroy you again. and as for the league its too close with the top 3 so close so dnt count your chicken there too seeing united is made up of only rooney these days.

Krakatoa - 2010-03-31 11:34

Its only half-time, there is another 90 minutes to play in front of the OTcrowd, where Man Utd will show more confidence than last night. Even if man utd didn't win anything this season, I don't care, they were written off anyways. weren't thay. They are a team transition, hope Fergie spends somr the £100 million this summer to start kicking ass again.

Barca - 2010-03-31 11:39

At least Ferguson admitted that they played poorly, if it was Arse-ene Whinger he'd blame the pitch or the referee.

ggmu - 2010-03-31 11:51

It's nice to know that Man Utd and Arsenal are the only 2 English clubs in the Champs League. Also nice to read how it pisses off the LOSERFOOLS,
and SPECIAL ONES(read retards), that they aren't in the competition! Neither one of theses teams have the consistency to match us. Smellsea dropped the ball long ago and Liverfoot are still looking for it shouting we've got history! Show some respect you ungrateful bast@rds at a team that has in the last 2 decades outclassed the lot of you.

@ggmu > leave history alone wanker cause you no nothing about it seems to me, and yes united may be flying high nw, but all the better to watch them fall so hard on there @sses!! when they get knocked out, and loose the league,and after that united should focus on the massive debt they hav as well.

just askin - 2010-03-31 12:11

Manscum united were missing their back up striker - Owen Goal in Germany and also missed their tame referee who has given them five penalties in eight games. Fortunately Europe has some standards not seen in England where referees look after fergies babes at old toilet.
who will he blame next week?

Rico - 2010-03-31 12:13

j lennon.....you tosser ....not sure if u support...makes no diff...your name is like a beetle...dead.....at least i can watch my team consistently challenge for trophys not cry season after season and make excuses....cant wait for the second leg to set things right...as for saturday.....no crying afterwards bitch!!!!!!!!!!

RekordMeister - 2010-03-31 12:17

I just hope everybody finally realizes now that football isn't only played in the Premier League... This was already proven last season by Barcelona, but it seems people are still ignorant...

RekordMeister - 2010-03-31 12:18

I just hope everybody finally realizes now that football isn't only played in the Premier League... This was already proven last season by Barcelona, but it seems people are still ignorant...

RekordMeister - 2010-03-31 12:18

I just hope everybody finally realizes now that football isn't only played in the Premier League... This was already proven last season by Barcelona, but it seems people are still ignorant...

seeps - 2010-03-31 12:58

@ Chosen1 ... win u??? Clutchplate go Join 1999-2010 who can't quantify what Sh1t I spoke as he clearly had nothing of any substance to add...... Tossers. Go have another brandy you brakpan imbeciles!!! Or better still go beat your wife... again.

@rico - 2010-03-31 13:08

dude...wtf are you on...
your going to sit there and act like the don after your team got handled last night and lost your only asset(dont tell me BMT nani or one foot valencia are assets)...your chances are thin,rooney is out and your coming up against a team who have bagged 12 in 2 games then on to bayern again,who clearly have you measured...and then your going to go to city at some point..and i dont know if youve noticed but united owe them...cheeky wins in the last two...so sit there like the don,refuse the facts and get your A$$ handed to you...
smuck

chosen1 - 2010-03-31 13:40

@ seeps read you stupid clot!!! you been given substance by many in this forum,and as for substance maybe you should ratther support PSL as your contributions are worth SH#T! to me,and the only wife that got a beating was united so P#SS OFF!

Ryan - 2010-03-31 14:16

Only United can generate such depth of feeling from friend and foe alike - a mark of their importance and standing in World football I believe .
@D.Edwards - dude I agree fully with your comments although I do believe United have enough self belief to overturn the deficit in the second leg at home to Bayern .
@Mbuyiselwa Maphalala - spoken like a true Red Devil mate .
Of immediate concern is the game against Chelsea on Saturday - WHO will play as striker if Rooney is unable to ?
Does anyone know the extent/seriousness of the injury ?

At least Fergie calls a spade a spade. Not like ARSene Wenger who puts things down to bad Refs, bad pitches and the unfair advantage of the opposition to throw a long ball into the box. Hope Arsenal wins tonight though. Utd will overturn this deficit @ OT just as they did Man City after the 1st leg of the Carling Cup.

Richard - 2010-03-31 16:37

At 1- 0 up manure thought that they just needed to defend and go home with an away goal. Soooorry for you

Vinny - 2010-03-31 16:38

Man United may have the away goal but it counts for nothing - tank is now empty - no premiership and no champs league , Chelsea gonna kick them silly this wkend..

Life-long United fan - 2010-03-31 16:55

Man Utd are capable of great highs, but also great lows. I thought that last night they were suffering with a big dose of "glory boy syndrome". Bayern showed great passion and were unlucky not to get a bunch of goals. I thought that a fair result would'v been 5-3 to Bayern. Certainly believe that Urd can overturn it at the Theatre of Dreams.

Tito - 2010-03-31 21:05

Apart from the goal that Man U got on a plate, Bayern played well. They made those skilless Man U midfielders look amatuer by not giving them space and closing them down quickly. If only Sir Alex's former players and his coaching admirers in the premiership took note Man U would not dominate the EPL. Bottom-line Bayern played well for a team that wasnt fullstrength.

Ronnie "Shibobo" - 2010-03-31 23:49

face it guys even the best in the wold can loose sometime next week wednesday bm will be sorry they ever came to old trafford hold thums that ruthless rooney is ok

AL - 2010-04-01 09:30

I love how all the haters get so pumped up when UTD lose a game and then year after year have to sit there and watch UTD LIFT THE TROPHY and cry how the ref was biased, and if only we didn`t have injuries and Fergie was lucky and, and, and.......

limpo - 2010-04-01 09:37

it appears manu gets on peoples nerves.the fact that we've retained the EPL trophy for three consecutive seasons shows what we are capable of doing.i agree we played below par on tuesday night but thats no guarantee that we'll lose even next weeks return match.go man u..go man u